The human corpses on the battlefield were delivered to Abathur. He stuffed an entire human corpse into his mouth, consumed it, and began his analysis.
"Genetic sequence... distinct from humanity. Eerie, twisted, massive genetic modification."
"Are they not people from the Terran Dominion?"
The humans of the Terran Dominion in StarCraft II also possess some genetic modifications, but they are certainly not as warped as those in Warhammer 40K. Some humans in the Underhives of Warhammer 40K hardly even retain a human appearance.
"Or rather, are these Terran Dominion humans from a planet that was abandoned due to some accident, only to be later altered by the denizens of the Warhammer universe?"
The Overmind pondered for a moment before asking, "Abathur, is there a significant difference between the genetic sequences of these humans and the ones we first encountered?"
"Difference is immense. Practically... two different species."
"Then it's likely as I thought."
This planet was either one abandoned by that human transmigrator, or it was a world conquered by the Imperium of Man. Regardless, the humans here were no longer "pure." To the Overmind, unpure humans weren't humans at all—merely xenos that happened to look like them.
Currently, the only thing the Overmind desired was that Battlecruiser. Infestors could hijack certain low-level human technologies, and there might be records stored within that vessel.
At that moment, the Overmind witnessed numerous Ultramarine Drop Pods falling from the sky.
"Overmind, those humans have begun a forced landing on the planetary surface. Our Mutalisks intercepted some, but many have still reached the surface."
"How bold."
The Overmind had no doubt in the Swarm's strength; those dropped Ultramarines were essentially walking corpses.
"Since they've dropped down, they shouldn't expect to leave."
Did they think they could offend the Overmind and just walk away? What, did they think their name was Titus?
Titus was currently serving in the Deathwatch, and he wouldn't be out for another two hundred years. The Overmind wasn't worried at all about that powerhouse coming to find trouble.
On a planet where the Tyranids and the Zerg were engaged in a violent war of attrition, the Ultramarines' drop operation was nothing short of a suicide mission.
The Zerg combat units were currently stronger than the Tyranid units. For a time, the corpses of both swarms were scattered everywhere. On the ground, Rippers—roughly the size of a human head—gnawed on corpses to reclaim biomass, only to be quickly hunted down by surrounding Zerglings.
The Creep was gradually spreading, though the Tyranids had deployed numerous Spore Mines to blow up the newly expanding bio-matter. Creep Tumors and Spore Crawlers were also under various degrees of attack, limiting the Creep's ability to reclaim biomass to the immediate vicinity.
I feel like this planet is an ever-growing jackpot, the Overmind thought. Whoever wins gets to feast.
Naturally, the Tyranid Hive Fleet would not give up such a massive haul of meat. Even though the Zerg held a clear advantage, the Tyranid fleet continued to pour in reinforcements.
The battle between the two factions raged from the wastelands outside the Hive City all the way into its interior. Urban warfare was a ruthless, tragic meat grinder.
The main thoroughfares of the Hive City were undeniably occupied by the Zerg. Even a charge of just a few dozen Ultralisks was enough to trample anything that dared appear on the main streets.
Who wouldn't be dazed when facing a combat group composed of dozens of Titan-scale units?
"They are truly massive. These organisms have already evolved beyond the data in our intelligence reports."
An Ultramarine Scout stood atop a high building, gazing down at the Ultralisks on the streets below, realizing the main thoroughfare had fallen.
"I fear even a Baneblade super-heavy tank would struggle to kill those things. We need heavy-caliber firepower."
Units capable of one-shotting an Ultralisk did exist—a small Medusa Siege Gun would suffice—and the massive, building-sized Earthshaker Cannons possessed the terrifying power to level a Hive Cluster in a single shot.
However, heavy artillery was inherently stationary or towed; its self-defense was near zero. Facing a pack of Ultralisks, such weapons would surely be torn to shreds.
"Captain, the xenos have occupied the main streets of the Hive. They have Titan-class units. I am marking the coordinates and requesting orbital bombardment."
"Request denied. The fleet is engaged; orbital bombardment is unavailable."
Orbital bombardment required a stable low-orbit environment. Currently, both the Tyranid and Zerg fleets were attacking the Imperial fleet. The Imperial ships were lucky just to avoid destruction.
"Continue your mission. The safety of this world and the future of this Hive City are irrelevant. Find the object and bring it back."
"Understood, Captain."
After entering the Hive City, the Ultramarines actually avoided major conflicts with the Swarm. They seemed to be searching for something specific according to a plan.
The Overmind was unaware of this yet, but a few unlucky Ultramarines were discovered by the Swarm and attacked.
"Die, xenos!"
The overall capability of the Ultramarines was above average among Space Marines—well-balanced in all aspects. They were the gold standard of the Adeptus Astartes.
Faced with a swarming horde of Zerg, they swung their chainswords and combat knives incessantly. Though Zerglings were fast, a Space Marine's reaction speed was equally legendary. It would take hundreds or thousands of Zerglings rushing blindly to take down a single Astartes.
However, the Swarm never fought alone. Several Hydralisks soon appeared among the Zerglings. Their back muscles flexed, and thick, bone-piercing spines were launched instantly.
Although the Ultramarine detected the humming approach of the spines, he only had time to turn his body. Before he could swing his weapon, a spine pierced the thick armor of his shoulder, pinning him to a wall.
The fact that he wasn't completely impaled spoke to his toughness. An Ork would have been perforated several times over.
Despite the intense pain, the Ultramarine quickly yanked out the spine. The wound began to bleed profusely, but the pressure from his transhuman musculature quickly stemmed the flow.
Just as the Ultramarine recognized the Hydralisk threat and drew his bolt pistol to eliminate them, the ground beneath him shook violently. He looked down to see a Roach that had burrowed beneath him, now bursting from the earth.
The Roach's maw clamped onto the Ultramarine's right leg, hoisting him upside down. The scythe-like blades on its sides swung out like miniature Ultralisks, carving deep, terrifying gouges into the power armor.
At this point, the Ultramarine had no chance of escape. His right foot and the surrounding armor had already been dissolved by the Roach's acid; it had happened so fast he hadn't even registered the pain.
Without giving the Astartes a chance to counterattack, the Zerglings swarmed over him, tearing him apart under the Roach's cover.
The cost to the Swarm? Merely a few dozen Zerglings that had rushed a bit too aggressively.
If the Overmind could maintain this kill-ratio, forget the Imperium of the 40th Millennium—even the Imperium of the 30th Millennium would be annihilated. After all, at its peak in the 30th Millennium, the Imperium only had a few million Space Marines.